Bill Text: WV SB499 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Amending WV tax laws to conform to changes in partnerships for federal income tax purposes

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-16 - Chapter 244, Acts, Regular Session, 2019 [SB499 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2019-SB499-Enrolled.html

WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 499

By Senators Blair and Cline

[Introduced February 1, 2019; Referred to the Committee on Finance]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §11-10-3, §11-10-4, §11-10-7, §11-10-14, §11-10-15, and §11-10-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-10-18c; to amend and reenact §11-21-3, §11-21-51a, §11-21-59, and §11-21-71a of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto four new sections, designated §11-21-37a, §11-21-37b, §11-21-37c, and §11-21-59a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-21A-1, §11-21A-2, §11-21A-3, §11-21A-4, §11-21A-5, §11-21A-6, §11-21A-7, §11-21A-8, §11-21A-9, §11-21A-10, §11-21A-11, and §11-21A-12; and to amend and reenact §11-24-20 of said code, all relating generally to amending West Virginia tax laws to conform to changes in how partnerships and their partners and other pass-through entities and their equity owners are treated for federal income tax purposes for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017; amending West Virginia Tax Procedures and Administration Act, Personal Income Tax Act, and Corporation Net Income Tax Act to provide for administration, collection, and enforcement of income tax on certain partnerships and other pass-through entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes and their partners and equity owners in conformity with changes made by United States Congress in how these entities and their equity owners are treated for federal income tax purposes for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017; providing for application of West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act to apply to imputed income taxes imposed on partnerships and other pass-through entities; imposing addition to tax for failure of partnership and other pass-through entity to file partnership’s returns and reports; imposing imputed personal income tax on certain partnerships and other pass-through entities treated like partnerships for federal income tax purposes based on federal audit adjustments; providing general rules and special rules for allocation and apportionment of business income; providing for filing of amended composite personal income tax returns by pass-through entities on behalf of nonresident equity owners; providing additional rules for reporting of federal changes to federal taxable incomes; providing amended rules for reporting of federal adjustments by Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority; providing rules for reporting adjustments by other states’ resident claims credit for tax paid to another state; providing for pass-through entity withholding on nonresidents when partnership or other pass-through entity pushes federal audit adjustments out to equity owners; adding a new article providing for administration, collection, and enforcement of additional West Virginia income taxes from certain partnerships and other pass-through entities treated like partnerships for federal income tax purposes, or their equity owners, that are attributable to federal audit adjustments; defining certain terms; providing for reporting of adjustments to federal taxable income; providing for reporting of federal audit adjustments resulting from federal audit of pass-through entity or from administrative adjustment requests; providing for assessment of additional West Virginia income taxes, interest, and additions to tax arising from federal adjustments to federal taxable income within applicable statute of limitations; allowing payment of estimated West Virginia income tax payments during course of federal audit of certain partnerships and other pass-through entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes; providing for refund or credit of West Virginia income taxes attributable to finalized federal audit adjustments; providing rules for scope of audit adjustments and extensions of time; specifying effective dates; providing for legislative, interpretive, and procedural rules; providing for Tax Procedures and Administration Act and Tax Crimes and Penalties Act to apply to imputed income tax imposed on certain partnerships and other pass-through entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes; providing additional rules for reporting of changes in federal taxable income of corporations; making technical corrections in existing code sections being amended; and specifying effective dates.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


ARTICLE 10. WEST VIRGINIA TAX PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION ACT.


§11-10-3. Application of this article.

(a) The provisions of this article apply to inheritance and transfer taxes, estate tax, and interstate compromise and arbitration of inheritance and death taxes: (1) The business registration tax; (2) the minimum severance tax on coal; (3) the corporate license tax; (4) the business and occupation tax; (5) the severance tax, additional severance taxes, telecommunications tax; (6) the interstate fuel tax; (7)  the consumers sales and service tax; (8) the use tax; (9) the economic opportunity district excise taxes; (10) the tobacco products excise taxes; (11) the excise tax on e-vapors; (12) the soft drinks tax; (13) the personal income tax; (14) the business franchise tax; (15) the corporation net income tax; (16) the gasoline and special fuels excise tax; (17) the motor fuels excise tax; (18) the motor carrier road tax; (19) the health care provider taxes; (20) the various solid waste assessment fees administered by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to chapters 17, 17A, 20, 22, and 22C of this code; (21) the excise taxes imposed by this code on sales of alcoholic liquor and wine; (22) the various tax credits administered by the Tax Commissioner; (23) any other tax or fee administered by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to this article; and (24) the tax relief for elderly homeowners and renters administered by the State Tax Commissioner. This article shall not apply to ad valorem taxes on real and personal property or any other tax not listed in this section, except that in the case of ad valorem taxes on real and personal property, when any return, claim, statement or other document is required to be filed, or any payment is required to be made within a prescribed period or before a prescribed date, and the applicable law requires delivery to the office of the sheriff of a county of this state, the methods prescribed in §11-10-5f of this code for timely filing and payment to the Tax Commissioner or State Tax Department are the same methods utilized for timely filing and payment with the sheriff.

(b) The provisions of this article apply to beer barrel tax levied by §11-16-1 et seq. of this code; and to wine liter tax levied by §60-8-4 of this code.

(c) The provisions of this article apply to any other article of this chapter or of this code when the application is expressly provided by the Legislature.

(d) The provisions of this article apply to municipal sales and use taxes imposed under §8-13C-1 et seq. of this code and collected by the Tax Commissioner.


§11-10-4. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the term:

(a) “C corporation” means a legal entity that is taxed separately from its owners under subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code as defined in §11-21-1 et seq. and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) “Information return or report” means any document required to be filed with the Tax Commissioner by any article of this code, which provides information to the Tax Commissioner but does not include an accurately calculated tax liability of an individual or business entity. Information return or report includes, but is not limited to, information returns filed by S corporations pursuant to §11-24-13b of this code, information returns filed by partnerships pursuant to §11-21-58 of this code, any statement required to be furnished under IRC § 6226(a)(2) or under any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code which provides for the application of rules similar to those in IRC § 6226; and any other information return or report required to be filed with the Tax Commissioner pursuant to §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code, or any other article of this code that is administered under §11-10-1 et seq. of this code.

(c) “Officer or employee of this state” shall include, but is not limited to, any former officer or employee of the State of West Virginia.

(d) “Office of Tax Appeals” means the West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals created by §11-10A-3 of this code.

(e) “Pass-through entity” means an entity that is not subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code imposing tax on C corporations or other entities taxable as a C corporation for federal income tax purposes.

(f) “Person” shall include, but is not limited to, any individual, firm, partnership, limited partnership, copartnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other pass-through entity, association, corporation, municipal corporation, organization, receiver, estate, trust, guardian, executor, administrator, and also any officer, employee, or member of any of the foregoing who, as an officer, employee, or member, is under a duty to perform or is responsible for the performance of an act prescribed by the provisions of this article and the provisions of any of the other articles of this chapter or this code which impose taxes administered by the Tax Commissioner, unless the intention to give a more limited or broader meaning is disclosed by the context of this article or any of the other articles of this chapter which impose taxes or fees administered by the Tax Commissioner under this article.

(g) “Return” means for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, a tax or information return or report, declaration of estimated tax, claim or petition for refund or credit or petition for reassessment which is complete and that is required by, or provided for, or permitted under the provisions of this article (or any article of this chapter administered under this article) which is filed with the Tax Commissioner by, on behalf of, or with respect to any person and any amendment or supplement thereto, including supporting schedules, attachments, or lists which are supplemental to the return so filed. For purposes of this subsection, “complete” means for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, the information required to be entered is entered on the applicable return forms. A return form is not to be considered complete if the information required to be entered on the applicable return forms is only contained in amendments or supplements thereto, including supporting schedules, attachments, or lists. A return that is not considered complete is deemed not to be filed:

(1) For purposes of claiming a refund of any tax administered under this article;

(2) For purposes of the commencement of any limitation on any assessment under §11-10-15 of this code;

(3) For purposes of determining the commencement of the period when the Tax Commissioner shall pay interest for the late payment of a refund;

(4) For purposes of additions to tax imposed under §11-10-18, §11-10-18a, or §11-10-18b of this code; or

(5) For purposes of penalties imposed under §11-10-19 of this code.

(h) “State” means any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

(i) “Tax” or “taxes” includes within the meaning thereof taxes and fees specified in §11-10-3 of this code, and additions to tax, penalties, and interest, unless the intention to give the same a more limited meaning is disclosed by the context.

(j) “Tax commissioner” or “commissioner” means the Tax Commissioner of the State of West Virginia or his or her delegate.

(k) “Taxpayer” means any person required to file a return for any tax or fee administered under this article, or any person liable for the payment of any tax or fee administered under this article.

(l) “Tax administered under this article” means any tax or fee to which this article applies as set forth in §11-10-3 of this code.

(m) “This code” means the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended.

(n) “This state” means the State of West Virginia.


§11-10-7. Assessment.


(a) General. — If the Tax Commissioner believes that any tax administered under this article has been insufficiently returned by a taxpayer, either because the taxpayer has failed to properly remit the tax or fee, or has failed to make a return, or has made a return which is incomplete, deficient, or otherwise erroneous, he or she may proceed to investigate and determine or estimate the tax liability and make an assessment therefor.

(b) Jeopardy assessments. — If the Tax Commissioner believes that the collection of any tax administered under this article will be jeopardized by delay, he or she shall thereupon make an assessment of tax, noting that fact upon the assessment. The amount assessed shall immediately be due and payable. Unless the taxpayer against whom a jeopardy assessment is made posts the required security and petitions for reassessment within 20 days after service of notice of the jeopardy assessment, such assessment shall become final: Provided, That upon written request of the taxpayer made within the 20-day period, showing reasonable cause therefor, the Tax Commissioner may grant an extension of time not to exceed 30 additional days within which such petition may be filed. If a taxpayer against whom a jeopardy assessment has been made petitions for reassessment or requests an extension of time to file a petition for reassessment, the petition or request shall be accompanied by remittance of the amount assessed or such security as the Tax Commissioner may consider necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable provisions of this chapter. If a petition for reassessment is timely filed, and the amount assessed has been remitted, or such other security posted, the provisions for hearing, determination, and appeal set forth in §11-10A-1 et seq. of this code shall then be applicable.

(c) Amendment of assessment. — The Tax Commissioner may, at any time before the assessment becomes final, amend, in whole or in part, any assessment whenever he or she ascertains that such assessment is improper or incomplete in any material respect.

(d) Supplemental assessment. — The Tax Commissioner may, at any time within the period prescribed for assessment, make a supplemental assessment whenever he or she ascertains that any assessment is imperfect or incomplete in any material respect.

(e) Address for notice of assessment. —

(1) General rule. — In the absence of notice to the Tax Commissioner under §11-10-5o of this code of the existence of a fiduciary relationship, notice of assessment, if sent by certified mail or registered mail to the taxpayer at his or her last known address, shall be sufficient even if such taxpayer is deceased, or is under a legal disability, or, in the case of a corporation or other legal entity, has terminated its existence.

(2) Joint income tax return. — In the case of a joint income tax return filed by a husband and wife, such notice of assessment may be a single notice, except that if the Tax Commissioner has been notified by either spouse that separate residences have been established, then in lieu of a single notice, a duplicate original of the joint notice shall be sent by certified or registered mail to each spouse at his or her last known address.

(3) Estate tax. — In the absence of notice to the Tax Commissioner of the existence of a fiduciary relationship, notice of assessment of a tax imposed by §11-11-1 et seq. of this code, if addressed in the name of the decedent or other person subject to liability and mailed to his or her last known address, by registered or certified mail, shall be sufficient for purposes of this article and §11-11-1 et seq. of this code.

(f) For purposes of this section, the term “taxpayer” includes any partnership or other pass-through entity that owes tax pursuant to §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code.

§11-10-14. Overpayments; credits; refunds and limitations.


(a) Refunds or credits of overpayments. — In the case of overpayment of any tax (or fee), additions to tax, penalties, or interest imposed by this article, or any of the other articles of this chapter, or of this code, to which this article is applicable, the Tax Commissioner shall, subject to the provisions of this article, refund to the taxpayer the amount of the overpayment or, if the taxpayer so elects, apply the same as a credit against the taxpayer’s liability for the tax for other periods. The refund or credit shall include any interest due the taxpayer under §11-10-17 of this code.

(b) Refunds or credits of gasoline and special fuel excise tax or motor carrier road tax. — Any person who seeks a refund or credit of gasoline and special fuel excise taxes under §11-14-10, §11-14-11, §11-14-12, §11-14A-9, or §11-14A-11 of this code, or of motor fuel excise tax under §11-14C-9 of this code shall file his or her claim for refund or credit in accordance with the provisions of the applicable sections. The 90-day time period for determination of claims for refund or credit provided in subsection (d) of this section does not apply to these claims for refund or credit: Provided, That claims for refund or credit of the motor fuel excise tax under §11-14C-9 of this code are subject to the 90-day time period provided in subsection (d) of this section: Provided, however, That claims for refund or credit of the motor fuel excise tax under §11-14C-9 of this code made by the United States government or unit or agency thereof, any municipal government or any agency thereof, or any county board of education made pursuant to §11-14C-9(c)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of this code will be subject to a 30-day time period.

(c) Claims for refund or credit. — No refund or credit shall be made unless the taxpayer has timely filed a claim for refund or credit with the Tax Commissioner. A person against whom an assessment or administrative decision has become final is not entitled to file a claim for refund or credit with the Tax Commissioner as prescribed herein. The Tax Commissioner shall determine the taxpayer’s claim and notify the taxpayer in writing of his or her determination.

(d) Petition for refund or credit; hearing. —

(1) If the taxpayer is not satisfied with the Tax Commissioner’s determination of taxpayer’s claim for refund or credit, or if the Tax Commissioner has not determined the taxpayer’s claim within 90 days after the claim was filed, or six months in the case of claims for refund or credit of the taxes imposed by §11-21-1 et seq., §11-21A-1 et seq., and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, after the filing thereof, the taxpayer may file, with the Tax Commissioner, either personally or by certified mail, a petition for refund or credit: Provided, That no petition for refund or credit may be filed more than 60 days after the taxpayer is served with notice of denial of taxpayer’s claim: Provided, however, That after December 31, 2002, the taxpayer shall file the petition with the Office of Tax Appeals in accordance with §11-10A-9 of this code.

(2) The petition for refund or credit shall be in writing, verified under oath by the taxpayer, or by taxpayer’s duly authorized agent having knowledge of the facts, and set forth with particularity the items of the determination objected to, together with the reasons for the objections.

(3) When a petition for refund or credit is properly filed, the procedures for hearing and for decision applicable when a petition for reassessment is timely filed shall be followed.

(e) Appeal. — An appeal from the Office of Tax Appeals’ administrative decision upon the petition for refund or credit may be taken by the taxpayer in the same manner and under the same procedure as that provided for judicial review of an administrative decision on a petition for reassessment, but no bond is required of the taxpayer. An appeal from the administrative decision of the Office of Tax Appeals on a petition for refund or credit, if taken by the taxpayer, shall be taken as provided in §11-10A-19 of this code.

(f) Decision of the court. — Where the appeal is to review an administrative decision on a petition for refund or credit, the court may determine the legal rights of the parties but in no event shall it enter a judgment for money.

(g) Refund made or credit established. — The Tax Commissioner shall promptly issue his or her requisition on the treasury or establish a credit, as requested by the taxpayer, for any amount finally administratively or judicially determined to be an overpayment of any tax (or fee) administered under this article. The Auditor shall issue his or her warrant on the Treasurer for any refund requisitioned under this subsection payable to the taxpayer entitled to the refund, and the Treasurer shall pay the warrant out of the fund into which the amount refunded was originally paid: Provided, That refunds of personal income tax may also be paid out of the fund established pursuant to §11-21-93 of this code.

(h) Forms for claim for refund or a credit; where return constitutes claim. — The Tax Commissioner may prescribe by rule or regulation the forms for claims for refund or credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the taxpayer has overpaid the tax imposed by §11-21-1 et seq., §11-21A-1 et seq., §11-23-1 et seq., or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, a return signed by the taxpayer which shows on its face that an overpayment of tax has been made constitutes a claim for refund or credit.

(i) Remedy exclusive. — The procedure provided by this section constitutes the sole method of obtaining any refund, credit, or any tax (or fee) administered under this article, it being the intent of the Legislature that the procedure set forth in this article is in lieu of any other remedy, including the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act embodied in §55-13-1 et seq. of this code, and §11-1-2a of this code.

(j) Applicability of this section. — The provisions of this section apply to refunds or credits of any tax (or fee), additions to tax, penalties or interest imposed by this article, or any article of this chapter, or of this code, to which this article is applicable.

(k) Erroneous refund or credit. — If the Tax Commissioner believes that an erroneous refund has been made or an erroneous credit has been established, he or she may proceed to investigate and make an assessment within the period prescribed in §11-10-15 of this code or institute civil action to recover the amount of the refund or credit, within two years from the date the erroneous refund was paid or the erroneous credit was established, except that the assessment may be issued or civil action brought within two years from the date if it appears that any portion of the refund or credit was induced by fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact.

(l) Limitation on claims for refund or credit. —

(1) General rule. — Whenever a taxpayer claims to be entitled to a refund or credit of any tax (or fee), additions to tax, penalties or interest imposed by this article, or any article of this chapter, or of this code, administered under this article, paid into the treasury of this state, the taxpayer shall, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, file a claim for refund, or credit, within three years after the due date of the return in respect of which the tax (or fee) was imposed, determined by including any authorized extension of time for filing the return, or within two years from the date the tax (or fee) was paid, whichever of the periods expires the later, or if no return was filed by the taxpayer, within two years from the time the tax (or fee) was paid, and not thereafter.

(2) Extensions of time for filing claim by agreement. — The Tax Commissioner and the taxpayer may enter into a written agreement to extend the period within which the taxpayer may file a claim for refund or credit, which period shall not exceed two years. The period agreed upon may be extended for additional periods not in excess of two years each by subsequent agreements in writing made before expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

(3) Special rule where agreement to extend time for making an assessment. — Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, if an agreement is made under §11-10-15 of this code extending the time period in which an assessment of tax can be made, then the period for filing a claim for refund or credit for overpayment of the same tax made during the periods subject to assessment under the extension agreement are also extended for the period of the extension agreement plus 90 days.

(4) Overpayment of federal tax. — Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, in the event of a final determination by the United States Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority of an overpayment in the taxpayer’s federal income or estate tax liability, the period of limitation upon claiming a refund reflecting the final determination in taxes imposed by §11-21-1 et seq., §11-21A-1 et seq., and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code may not expire until six months after the determination is made by the United States Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority.

(5) Tax paid to the wrong state. — Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, when an individual, or the fiduciary of an estate, has in good faith erroneously paid personal income tax, estate tax or sales tax, to this state on income or a transaction which was lawfully taxable by another state and, therefore, not taxable by this state, and no dispute exists as to the jurisdiction to which the tax should have been paid, then the time period for filing a claim for refund, or credit, for the tax erroneously paid to this state does not expire until 90 days after the tax is lawfully paid to the other state.

(6) Exception for gasoline and special fuel excise tax, motor fuel excise tax and motor carrier road tax. — This subsection does not apply to refunds or credits of gasoline and special fuel excise tax, motor carrier road tax, or motor fuel excise tax sought under §11-14-1 et seq., §11-14A-1 et seq., or §11-14C-1 et seq. of this code.


§11-10-15. Limitations on assessment.


(a) General rule. — The amount of any tax, additions to tax, penalties, and interest imposed by this article or any of the other articles of this chapter to which this article is applicable shall be assessed within three years after the date the return was filed (whether or not such return was filed on or after the date prescribed for filing): Provided, That in the case of a false or fraudulent return filed with the intent to evade tax, or in case no return was filed, the assessment may be made at any time: Provided, however, That if a taxpayer fails to disclose a listed transaction, as defined in Section 6707A of the Internal Revenue Code, on the taxpayer’s state or federal income tax return, an assessment may be made at any time not later than six years after the due date of the return required under §11-21-1 et seq., or §11-24-1 et seq., or §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code for the same taxable year or after such return was filed, or not later than three years after an amended return is filed, whichever is later.

(b) Time return deemed filed. —

(1) Early return. — For purposes of this section, a return filed before the last day prescribed by law, or by rules promulgated by the Tax Commissioner for filing thereof, shall be considered as filed on such last date;

(2) Returns executed by Tax Commissioner. — The execution of a return by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to the authority conferred by §11-10-5c of this code shall not start the running of the period of limitations on assessment and collection.

(c) Exceptions. — Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section:

(1) Extension by agreement. — The Tax Commissioner and the taxpayer may enter into written agreements to extend the period within which the Tax Commissioner may make an assessment against the taxpayer which period shall not exceed two years. The period so agreed upon may be extended for additional periods not in excess of two years each by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon;

(2) Deficiency in federal tax. — Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, in the event of a final determination by the United States Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority of a deficiency in the taxpayer’s federal income tax liability, the period of limitation, upon assessment of a deficiency reflecting such final determinations in the taxes imposed by §11-21-1 et seq., §11-21A-1 et seq., and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, may not expire until 90 days after the Tax Commissioner is advised of the determination by the taxpayer as provided in §11-21-59 and §11-24-20 of this code, or until the period of limitations upon assessment provided in subsection (a) of this section has expired, whichever expires the later, and regardless of the tax year of the deficiency;

(3) Special rule for certain amended returns. — Where, within the 60-day period ending on the day on which the time prescribed in this section for the assessment of any tax for any taxable year would otherwise expire, the Tax Commissioner receives a written document signed by the taxpayer showing that the taxpayer owes an additional amount of such tax for such taxable year, the period for the assessment of such additional amount shall not expire before the day 60 days after the day on which the Tax Commissioner receives such document;

(4) Net operating loss or capital loss carrybacks. — In the case of a deficiency attributable the application by the taxpayer of a net operating loss carryback or a capital loss carryback (including that attributable to a mathematical or clerical error in application of the loss carryback) such deficiency may be assessed at any time before expiration of the period within which a deficiency for the taxable year of the net operating loss or net capital loss which results in such carryback may be assessed;

(5) Certain credit carrybacks. — In the case of a deficiency attributable to the application to the taxpayer of a credit carryback (including that attributable to a mathematical or clerical error in application of the credit carryback) such deficiency may be assessed at any time before expiration of the period within which a deficiency for the taxable year of the unused credit which results in such carryback may be assessed, or with respect to any portion of a credit carryback from a taxable year attributable to a net operating loss carryback, capital loss carryback, or other credit carryback from a subsequent taxable year, at any time before expiration of the period within which a deficiency for such subsequent taxable year may be assessed. The term “credit carryback” means any carryback allowed under §5E-1-8 of this code;

(6) Overpayment of tax credited against payment of another tax. — In the event of a final determination that a taxpayer owes less tax than the amount paid by the taxpayer, and the amount paid was allowed as a credit against a tax administered under this article, the period of limitation upon assessment of a deficiency in the payment of such other tax due to the overstating of the allowable credit, may not expire until 90 days after the Tax Commissioner receives written notice from the taxpayer advising the Tax Commissioner of the final determination reducing the taxpayer’s liability for a tax allowed as a credit against a tax administered under this article, or until the period of limitations upon assessment provided in subsection (a) of this section has expired, whichever expires the later, and regardless of the tax year of the deficiency.

(d) Cases under bankruptcy code. — The running of limitations provided in subsection (a) of this section, on the making of assessments, or provided in §11-10-16 of this code, on collection, shall, in a case under Title 11 of the United States Code, be suspended for the period during which the Tax Commissioner is prohibited by reason of such case from making the assessment or from collecting the tax and:

(1) For assessment, 60 days thereafter; and

(2) For collection, six months thereafter.


§11-10-16. Limitations on collection.


(a) Where assessment is issued. — Every proceeding instituted by the Tax Commissioner for the collection of the amount found to be due under an assessment which has become final of any tax, additions to tax, penalties or interest imposed by this article or any of the other articles of this chapter to which this article is applicable, irrespective of whether the proceeding  is instituted in a court or by utilization of other methods provided by law for the collection of such tax, additions to tax, penalty or interest, shall be brought or commenced within 10 years after the date on which such assessment has become final.

(b) Where assessment is not issued. — Every proceeding instituted by the Tax Commissioner for the collection of the amount determined to be due by methods provided by law other than the issuance of an assessment, of any tax, additions to tax, penalties, or interest imposed by this article or any of the other articles of this chapter to which this article is applicable, irrespective of whether the proceeding is instituted in a court or by utilization of other methods provided by law for the collection of such tax, additions to tax, penalties or interest, shall be brought or commenced within 10 years after the date on which the taxpayer filed the annual return required to be filed by any of the articles of this code to which §11-10-1 et seq. of this code is applicable and, if no annual return is required, such 10-year period shall begin on the day after the latest periodical return required to be filed in any year is filed.

(c) Extension of time for institutions of collection proceedings by agreement. — The Tax Commissioner and the taxpayer may enter into written agreement to extend the period within which the Tax Commissioner may institute proceedings for the collection of the amount found to be due under an assessment which has become final, or the amount determined to be due by methods provided by law other than the issuance of the assessment, of any tax, additions to tax, penalties or interest imposed by this article or any of the other articles of this code to which this article is applicable. This period may not exceed two years. The period so agreed upon may be extended for additional periods not in excess of two years each by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

An extension of a tax lien, including an extension agreed to in writing by the taxpayer and the Tax Commissioner, beyond 10 years is not effective under the provisions of this section unless the extension is docketed by the Tax Commissioner in the office of the county commission as is required under §38-10C-1 et seq. of this code for docketing tax liens.



(a) General rule. —  In addition to the additions to tax imposed by §11-10-18 of this code (relating to failure to file return, supply information, or pay tax), if any partnership required to file a return under §11-21A-3 of this code, or a partnership adjustment report under §11-21A-3 of this code for any taxable year:

(1) Fails to file such return or report at the time prescribed therefor (determined with regard to any extension of time for filing); or

(2) Files a return or report which fails to show the information required under §11-21A-3 of this code, the partnership shall be liable for a penalty determined under §11-10-18c(b) of this code for each month (or fraction thereof) during which such failure continues (but not to exceed 12 months), unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause.

(b) Amount per month. — For purposes of §11-10-18c(a) of this code, the amount determined under §11-10-18c(b) of this code for any month is the product of:

(1) $195, multiplied by

(2) The number of persons who were partners in the partnership during any part of the taxable year.

(c) Assessment of penalty. — The penalty imposed by §11-10-18c(a) of this code shall be assessed against the partnership.

(d) Deficiency procedures not to apply. — The deficiency procedures set forth in §11-10A-1 et seq. of this code may not apply in respect of the assessment or collection of any penalty imposed by §11-10-18c(a) of this code.

(e) Adjustment for inflation. —

(1) In general. — In the case of any return required to be filed in a calendar year beginning after 2017, the $195 amount under 11-10-18c(b)(1) of this section shall be increased by such dollar amount multiplied by the cost-of-living adjustment determined under IRC §1(f)(3) determined by substituting “calendar year 2017” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

(2) Rounding. — If any amount adjusted under §11-10-18c(e)(1) of this code is not a multiple of $5, such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5.

(f) Effective date. — This section enacted in 2019 shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2018.

ARTICLE 21. PERSONAL INCOME TAX ACT.

§11-21-3. Imposition of tax; persons subject to tax.


(a) Imposition of tax. — A tax determined in accordance with the rates hereinafter set forth in this article is hereby imposed for each taxable year on the West Virginia taxable income of every individual, estate, and trust.

(b) Partners and partnerships. — A partnership as such shall not be subject to tax under this article. Persons carrying on business as partners shall be liable for tax under this article only in their separate or individual capacities.  However, partnerships and other pass-through entities are subject to the tax imposed by this article to the extent they elect to pay additional West Virginia income taxes owed that are attributable to final federal partnership audit adjustments under §11-21A-3 of this code.

(c) Associations taxable as corporations. — An association, trust or other unincorporated organization which is taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, shall not be subject to tax under this article.

(d) Exempt trusts and organizations. — A trust or other unincorporated organization which by reason of its purposes or activities is exempt from federal income tax shall be exempt from tax under this article (regardless of whether subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income).

(e) Cross references. — For definitions of West Virginia taxable income of:

(1) Resident individual, see §11-21-11 of this code.

(2) Resident estate or trust, see §11-21-18 of this code.

(3) Nonresident individual, see §11-21-30 of this code.

(4) Nonresident estate or trust, see §11-21-38 of this code.

(f) Effective date. — This section as amended in 2019 shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2018.



(a) Notwithstanding any provision of §11-21-37 of this code to the contrary, a business doing business in West Virginia and in one or more other states shall allocate its nonbusiness income as provided in §11-21-37a(c) of this code and shall apportion its business income as provided in §11-21-37a(f) of this code to determine the West Virginia source income of its nonresident partners and nonresident S corporation shareholders for purposes of this article. For purposes of this section:

(1) The term “business entity” includes a partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, corporation, S corporation, and any other group or combination acting as a unit, but does not include a sole proprietorship; and

(2) The term “engaging in business” or “doing business” means any activity of a business entity which enjoys the benefits and protection of government and laws in this state.

(b) Business activities entirely within West Virginia. — If the business activities of a taxpayer take place entirely within this state, the entire net income of the taxpayer is subject to the tax imposed by this article. The business activities of a taxpayer are considered to have taken place in their entirety within this state if the taxpayer is not “taxable in another state”. For purposes of allocation and apportionment of net income under this section, a taxpayer is taxable in another state if:

(1) In that state the taxpayer is subject to a net income tax, a franchise tax measured by net income, a franchise tax for the privilege of doing business, or a corporation stock tax; or

(2) That state has jurisdiction to subject the taxpayer to a net income tax, regardless of whether, in fact, that state does or does not subject the taxpayer to the tax.

(c) Nonbusiness income is allocated. —

Nonbusiness income. — The term “nonbusiness income” means all income other than business income.

(d) Business activities partially within and partially without West Virginia; allocation of nonbusiness income. — If the business activities of a taxpayer take place partially within and partially without this state and the taxpayer is also taxable in another state, rents and royalties from real or tangible personal property, capital gains, interest, dividends or patent or copyright royalties, to the extent that they constitute nonbusiness income of the taxpayer, shall be allocated as provided in §11-21-37a(d)(1) through (4) of this code: Provided, That to the extent the items constitute business income of the taxpayer, they may not be so allocated but shall be apportioned to this state according to the provisions of §11-21-37a(e) of this code.

(1) Net rents and royalties. —

(A) Net rents and royalties from real property located in this state are allocable to this state.

(B) Net rents and royalties from tangible personal property are allocable to this state:

(i) If and to the extent that the property is utilized in this state; or

(ii) In their entirety if the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state and the taxpayer is not organized under the laws of or taxable in the state in which the property is utilized.

(C) The extent of utilization of tangible personal property in a state is determined by multiplying the rents and royalties by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of physical location of the property in the state during the rental or royalty period in the taxable year and the denominator of which is the number of days of physical location of the property everywhere during all rental or royalty periods in the taxable year. If the physical location of the property during the rental or royalty period is unknown or unascertainable by the taxpayer, tangible personal property is utilized in the state in which the property was located at the time the rental or royalty payer obtained possession.

(2) Capital gains. —

(A) Capital gains and losses from sales of real property located in this state are allocable to this state.

(B) Capital gains and losses from sales of tangible personal property are allocable to this state if:

(i) The property had a situs in this state at the time of the sale; or

(ii) The taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state and the taxpayer is not taxable in the state in which the property had a situs.

(C) Capital gains and losses from sales of intangible personal property are allocable to this state if the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state.

(3) Interest and dividends are allocable to this state if the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state.

(4) Patent and copyright royalties. —

(A) Patent and copyright royalties are allocable to this state:

(i) If and to the extent that the patent or copyright is utilized by the payer in this state; or

(ii) If and to the extent that the patent or copyright is utilized by the payer in a state in which the taxpayer is not taxable and the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is in this state.

(B) A patent is utilized in a state to the extent that it is employed in production, fabrication, manufacturing, or other processing in the state or to the extent that a patented product is produced in the state. If the basis of receipts from patent royalties does not permit allocation to states or if the accounting procedures do not reflect states of utilization, the patent is utilized in the state in which the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is located.

(C) A copyright is utilized in a state to the extent that printing or other publication originates in the state. If the basis of receipts from copyright royalties does not permit allocation to states or if the accounting procedures do not reflect states of utilization, the copyright is utilized in the state in which the taxpayer’s commercial domicile is located.

(e) Business income defined. — The term “business income” means income arising from transactions and activity in the regular course of the taxpayer’s trade or business and includes income from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, management, and disposition of the property or the rendering of services in connection therewith constitute integral parts of the taxpayer’s regular trade or business operations and includes all income which is apportionable under the Constitution of the United States.

(f) Business activities partially within and partially without this state; apportionment of business income. — All net income, after deducting those items specifically allocated under §11-21-37a(d) of this code, shall be apportioned to this state by multiplying the net income by a fraction, the numerator of which is the property factor plus the payroll factor plus two times the sales factor and the denominator of which is four, reduced by the number of factors, if any, having no denominator.

(1) Property factor. — The property factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the average value of the taxpayer’s real and tangible personal property owned or rented and used by it in this state during the taxable year and the denominator of which is the average value of all the taxpayer’s real and tangible personal property owned or rented and used by the taxpayer during the taxable year, which is reported on Schedule L Federal Form 1065, plus the average value of all real and tangible personal property leased and used by the taxpayer during the taxable year.

(2) Value of property. — Property owned by the taxpayer shall be valued at its original cost, adjusted by subsequent capital additions or improvements thereto and partial disposition thereof, by reason of sale, exchange, abandonment, etc.: Provided, That where records of original cost are unavailable or cannot be obtained without unreasonable expense, property shall be valued at original cost as determined under rules of the Tax Commissioner. Property rented by the taxpayer from others shall be valued at eight times the annual rental rate. The term “net annual rental rate” is the annual rental paid, directly or indirectly, by the taxpayer, or for its benefit, in money or other consideration for the use of property and includes:

(A) Any amount payable for the use of real or tangible personal property, or any part of the property, whether designated as a fixed sum of money or as a percentage of sales, profits, or otherwise.

(B) Any amount payable as additional rent or in lieu of rents, such as interest, taxes, insurance, repairs, or any other items which are required to be paid by the terms of the lease or other arrangement, not including amounts paid as service charges, such as utilities, janitor services, etc. If a payment includes rent and other charges unsegregated, the amount of rent shall be determined by consideration of the relative values of the rent and the other items.

(3) Movable property. — The value of movable tangible personal property used both within and without this state shall be included in the numerator to the extent of its utilization in this state. The extent of the utilization shall be determined by multiplying the original cost of the property by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of physical location of the property in this state during the taxable period and the denominator of which is the number of days of physical location of the property everywhere during the taxable year. The number of days of physical location of the property may be determined on a statistical basis or by other reasonable method acceptable to the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Leasehold improvements. — Leasehold improvements shall, for purposes of the property factor, be treated as property owned by the taxpayer regardless of whether the taxpayer is entitled to remove the improvement, or the improvements revert to the lessor upon expiration of the lease. Leasehold improvements shall be included in the property factor at their original cost.

(5) Average value of property. — The average value of property shall be determined by averaging the values at the beginning and ending of the taxable year: Provided, That the Tax Commissioner may require the averaging of monthly values during the taxable year if substantial fluctuations in the values of the property exist during the taxable year, or where property is acquired after the beginning of the taxable year, or is disposed of, or whose rental contract ceases, before the end of the taxable year.

(6) Payroll factor. — The payroll factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total compensation paid in this state during the taxable year by the taxpayer for compensation and the denominator of which is the total compensation paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year, as shown on the taxpayer’s federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as reflected in the schedule of wages and salaries and that portion of cost of goods sold which reflects compensation or as shown on a pro forma return.

(7) Compensation. — The term “compensation” means wages, salaries, commissions, and any other form of remuneration paid to employees for personal services. Payments made to an independent contractor or to any other person not properly classifiable as an employee shall be excluded. Only amounts paid directly to employees are included in the payroll factor. Amounts considered as paid directly to employees include the value of board, rent, housing, lodging and other benefits or services furnished to employees by the taxpayer in return for personal services, provided the amounts constitute income to the recipient for federal income tax purposes.

(8) Employee. — The term “employee” means:

(A) Any officer of a business entity; or

(B) Any individual who, under the usual common-law rule applicable in determining the employer-employee relationship, has the status of an employee.

(9) Compensation. — Compensation is paid or accrued in this state if:

(A) The employee’s service is performed entirely within this state; or

(B) The employee’s service is performed both within and without this state, but the service performed without the state is incidental to the individual’s service within this state. The word “incidental” means any service which is temporary or transitory in nature or which is rendered in connection with an isolated transaction; or

(C) Some of the service is performed in this state and:

(i) The employee’s base of operations or, if there is no base of operations, the place from which the service is directed or controlled is in the state; or

(ii) The base of operations or the place from which the service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the employee’s residence is in this state.

The term “base of operations” is the place of a more or less permanent nature from which the employee starts his or her work and to which he or she customarily returns in order to receive instructions from the taxpayer or communications from his or her customers, or other persons, or to replenish stock or other materials, repair equipment, or perform any other functions necessary to the exercise of his or her trade or profession at some other point or points. The term “place from which the service is directed or controlled” refers to the place from which the power to direct or control is exercised by the employer.

(10) Sales factor. — The sales factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the gross receipts of the taxpayer derived from transactions and activity in the regular course of its trade or business in this state during the taxable year (business income), less returns and allowances. The denominator of the fraction is the total gross receipts derived by the taxpayer from transactions and activity in the regular course of its trade or business during the taxable year (business income) and reflected in its gross income reported and as appearing on the taxpayer’s Federal Form 1065 or 1120, as appropriate, or any successor form, and consisting of those certain pertinent portions of the (gross income) elements set forth: Provided, That if either the numerator or the denominator includes interest or dividends from obligations of the United States government which are exempt from taxation by this state, the amount of such interest and dividends, if any, shall be subtracted from the numerator or denominator in which it is included.

(11) Allocation of sales of tangible personal property. —

(A) Sales of tangible personal property are in this state if:

(i) The property is received in this state by the purchaser, other than the United States government, regardless of the free on board point or other conditions of the sale. In the case of delivery by common carrier or other means of transportation, the place at which the property is ultimately received after all transportation has been completed is the place at which the property is received by the purchaser. Direct delivery in this state, other than for purposes of transportation, to a person or firm designated by the purchaser, is delivery to the purchaser in this state and direct delivery outside this state to a person or firm designated by the purchaser is not delivery to the purchaser in this state, regardless of where title passes or other conditions of sale; or

(ii) The property is shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory or other place of storage in this state and the purchaser is the United States government.

(B) All other sales of tangible personal property delivered or shipped to a purchaser within a state in which the taxpayer is not taxed, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, shall be excluded from the denominator of the sales factor.

(12) Allocation of other sales. — Sales, other than sales of tangible personal property, are in this state if:

(A) The income-producing activity is performed in this state; or

(B) The income-producing activity is performed both in and outside this state and a greater proportion of the income-producing activity is performed in this state than in any other state, based on costs of performance; or

(C) The sale constitutes business income to the taxpayer, or the taxpayer is a financial organization not having its commercial domicile in this state, and in either case the sale is a receipt described as attributable to this state in §11-21-7b(b) of this code.

(f) Income-producing activity. — The term “income-producing activity” applies to each separate item of income and means the transactions and activity directly engaged in by the taxpayer in the regular course of its trade or business for the ultimate purpose of obtaining gain or profit. The activity does not include transactions and activities performed on behalf of the taxpayer, such as those conducted on its behalf by an independent contractor. “Income-producing activity” includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) The rendering of personal services by employees with utilization of tangible and intangible property by the taxpayer in performing a service;

(2) The sale, rental, leasing, licensing, or other use of real property;

(3) The sale, rental, leasing, licensing, or other use of tangible personal property; or

(4) The sale, licensing or other use of intangible personal property. — The mere holding of intangible personal property is not, in itself, an income-producing activity: Provided, That the conduct of the business of a financial organization is an income-producing activity.

(g) Cost of performance. — The term “cost of performance” means direct costs determined in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and in accordance with accepted conditions or practices in the trade or business of the taxpayer.

(h) Other methods of allocation and apportionment. —

(1) General. — If the allocation and apportionment provisions of §11-21-37a(d) and §11-21-37a(f) of this code do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s business activities in this state, the taxpayer may petition for, or the Tax Commissioner may require, in respect to all or any part of the taxpayer’s business activities, if reasonable:

(A) Separate accounting;

(B) The exclusion of one or more of the factors;

(C) The inclusion of one or more additional factors which will fairly represent the taxpayer’s business activity in this state; or

(D) The employment of any other method to effectuate an equitable allocation or apportionment of the taxpayer’s income. The petition shall be filed no later than the due date of the annual return for the taxable year for which the alternative method is requested, determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return and the petition shall include a statement of the petitioner’s objections and of the alternative method of allocation or apportionment as it believes to be proper under the circumstances with detail and proof as the Tax Commissioner requires.

(2) Burden of proof. — In any proceeding before the Office of Tax Appeals established in §11-10A-1 et seq. of this code, or in any court in which employment of one of the methods of allocation or apportionment provided in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection is sought, on the grounds that the allocation and apportionment provisions of §11-21-37a(d) and §11-21-37a(f) of this code do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s business activities in this state, the burden of proof is on:

(A) The Tax Commissioner, if the commissioner seeks employment of one of the methods; or

(B) The taxpayer, if the taxpayer seeks employment of one of the other methods.

(i) Effective date. — This section added in 2019 shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2018.


§11-21-37b. Special apportionment rules.


(a) General. — The Legislature hereby finds that the general formula set forth in §11-21-37a of this code for apportioning the business income of individuals, partnerships, other pass-through entities, and small business corporations taxable in this as well as in another state is inappropriate for use by certain businesses due to the particular characteristics of those businesses or the manner in which such businesses are conducted. Accordingly, the general formula set forth in §11-21-37a of this code may not be used to apportion business income when a specific formula established under this section applies to the business of the taxpayer. The Legislature further finds that the Tax Commissioner has the authority under §11-1-1 et seq. of this code to promulgate by legislative rules special formula or formulae by which a specified classification of taxpayers is required to apportion its business income. Accordingly, this section may not be construed as prohibiting the Tax Commissioner from exercising his authority to promulgate legislative rules which set forth such other special formula or formulae and in that regulation requiring a specified classification of taxpayers to apportion their business income as provided in that special formula, instead of apportioning their business income employing the general formula set forth in §11-21-37a of this code, when the commissioner believes that the formula or formulae will more fairly and more reasonably allocate and apportion to this state the adjusted federal taxable income of the taxpayer. Additionally, nothing in this section may prevent the Tax Commissioner from requiring the use, or the taxpayer from petitioning to use, as the case may be, some other method of allocation or apportionment as provided in §11-21-37a(h) of this code. Permission granted to a taxpayer under §11-21-37a(h) of this code to use another method of allocation or apportionment shall be valid for a period of five consecutive taxable years, beginning with the taxable year for which such authorization is granted, provided there is no material change of fact or law which materially affects the fairness and reasonableness of the result reached under such other method of allocation or apportionment. Upon expiration of any such authorization the taxpayer may again petition under §11-21-37a of this code to use another method of apportionment. A material change of fact or law which materially affects the fairness and reasonableness of the result reached under such other method of allocation or apportionment automatically revokes authorization to use that other method beginning with the taxable year in which the material change of fact occurred or the taxable year for which a material change in law first takes effect, whichever occurs first.

(b) Motor carriers. — Motor carriers of property or passengers shall apportion the business income component of their adjusted federal taxable income to this state by the use of the ratio which their total vehicle miles in this state during the taxable year bears to total vehicle miles of the corporation everywhere during the taxable year, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(1) Definitions. — For purposes of this subsection:

(A) “Motor carrier” means any person engaging in the transportation of passengers or property or both, for compensation by motor propelled vehicle over roads in this state, whether traveling on a scheduled route or otherwise.

(B) “Vehicle mile” means the operation of a motor carrier over a distance of one mile, whether owned or operated by a corporation.

(2) The provisions of this subsection may not apply to a motor carrier:

(A) Which neither owns nor rents real or tangible personal property located in this state, which has made no pick-ups or deliveries within this state, and which has traveled less than 50,000 vehicle miles in this state during the taxable year; or

(B) Which neither owns nor rents any real or tangible personal property located in this state, except vehicles, and which makes no more than 12 trips into or through this state during a taxable year.

(3) The mileage traveled under 50,000 miles or the mileage traveled in this state during the 12 trips into or through this state may not represent more than five percent of the total motor vehicle miles traveled in all states during the taxable year.

(c) Effective date. — The provisions of this section enacted in 2019 shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.


§11-21-37c. Special apportionment rules - financial organizations.


(a) General. — The Legislature hereby finds that the general formula set forth in §11-21-37a of this code for apportioning the business income of persons taxable in this state as well as in another state is inappropriate for use by financial organizations due to the particular characteristics of those organizations and the manner in which their business is conducted. Accordingly, the general formula set forth in §11-21-37a of this code may not be used to apportion the business income of financial organizations, which shall use only the apportionment formula and methods set forth in this section.

(b) West Virginia financial organizations taxable in another state. — The West Virginia taxable income of a financial organization that has its commercial domicile in this state and which is taxable in another state shall be the sum of: (1) The nonbusiness income component of its adjusted federal taxable income for the taxable year which is allocated to this state as provided §11-21-37a(d) of this code; plus (2) the business income component of its adjusted federal taxable income for the taxable year which is apportioned to this state as provided in this section.

(c) Out-of-state financial organizations with business activities in this state. — The West Virginia taxable income of a financial organization that does not have its commercial domicile in this state but which regularly engages in business in this state shall be the sum of: (1) The nonbusiness income component of its adjusted federal taxable income for the taxable year which is allocated to this state as provided in §11-21-37a(d) of this code; plus (2) the business income component of its adjusted federal taxable income for the taxable year which is apportioned to this state as provided in this section.

(d) Engaging in business - nexus presumptions and exclusions. — A financial organization that has its commercial domicile in another state is presumed to be regularly engaging in business in this state if during any year it obtains or solicits business with 20 or more persons within this state, or if the sum of the value of its gross receipts attributable to sources in this state equals or exceeds $100,000. However, gross receipts from the following types of property, as well as those contacts with this state reasonably and exclusively required to evaluate and complete the acquisition or disposition of the property, the servicing of the property or the income from it, the collection of income from the property or the acquisition or liquidation of collateral relating to the property shall not be a factor in determining whether the owner is engaging in business in this state:

(1) An interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, a real estate investment trust, or a regulated investment company;

(2) An interest in a loan backed security representing ownership or participation in a pool of promissory notes or certificates of interest that provide for payments in relation to payments or reasonable projections of payments on the notes or certificates;

(3) An interest in a loan or other asset from which the interest is attributed to a consumer loan, a commercial loan, or a secured commercial loan and in which the payment obligations were solicited and entered into by a person that is independent, and not acting on behalf, of the owner;

(4) An interest in the right to service or collect income from a loan or other asset from which interest on the loan is attributed as a loan described in the previous paragraph and in which the payment obligations were solicited and entered into by a person that is independent, and not acting on behalf, of the owner; or

(5) Any amounts held in an escrow or trust account with respect to property described above.

(e) Definitions. — For purposes of this section:

(1) “Commercial domicile” has same meaning as that term is defined in §11-24-3a of this code.

(2) “Deposit” means:

(A) The unpaid balance of money or its equivalent received or held by a financial organization in the usual course of business and for which it has given or it is obligated to give credit, either conditionally or unconditionally, to a commercial, checking, savings, time, or thrift account whether or not advance notice is required to withdraw the credit funds, or which is evidenced by a certificate of deposit, thrift certificate, investment certificate, or certificate of indebtedness, or other similar name, or a check or draft drawn against a deposit account and certified by the financial organization, or a letter of credit or a traveler’s check on which the financial organization is primarily liable: Provided, That without limiting the generality of the term “money or its equivalent”, any account or instrument must be regarded as evidencing the receipt of the equivalent of money when credited or issued in exchange for checks or drafts or for a promissory note upon which the person obtaining any credit or instrument is primarily or secondarily liable or for a charge against a deposit account or in settlement of checks, drafts or other instruments forwarded to the bank for collection;

(B) Trust funds received or held by the financial organization, whether held in the trust department or held or deposited in any other department of the financial organization;

(C) Money received or held by a financial organization or the credit given for money or its equivalent received or held by a financial organization in the usual course of business for a special or specific purpose, regardless of the legal relationship thereby established, including, without being limited to, escrow funds, funds held as security for an obligation due the financial organization or other, including funds held as dealers’ reserves or for securities loaned by the financial organization, funds deposited by a debtor to meet maturing obligations, funds deposited as advance payment on subscriptions to United States government securities, funds held for distribution or purchase of securities, funds held to meet its acceptances or letters of credit, and withheld taxes: Provided, That there may not be included funds which are received by the financial organization for immediate application to the reduction of an indebtedness to the receiving financial organization, or under condition that the receipt thereof immediately reduces or extinguishes an indebtedness;

(D) Outstanding drafts, including advice or authorization to charge a financial organization’s balance in another organization, cashier’s checks, money orders or other officer’s checks issued in the usual course of business for any purpose, but not including those issued in payment for services, dividends, or purchases or other costs or expenses of the financial organization itself; and

(E) Money or its equivalent held as a credit balance by a financial organization on behalf of its customer if the entity is engaged in soliciting and holding balances in the regular course of its business.

(3) “Financial organization” has the same meaning as that term is defined in §11-21-3a of this code.

(4) “Sales” means, for purposes of apportionment under this section, the gross receipts of a financial organization included in the gross receipts factor described in subsection (g) of this section, regardless of their source.

(f) Apportionment rules. — A financial organization which regularly engages in business both within and without this state shall apportion the business income component of its federal taxable income, after adjustment as provided in §11-24-6 of this code, by multiplying the amount thereof by the special gross receipts factor determined as provided in subsection (g) of this section.

(g) Special gross receipts factor. — The gross receipts factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total gross receipts of the taxpayer from sources within this state during the taxable year and the denominator of which is the total gross receipts of the taxpayer wherever earned during the taxable year: Provided, That neither the numerator nor the denominator of the gross receipts factor shall include receipts from obligations described in §11-24-6(f)(1)(A), (B), (C), and (D) of this code.

(1) Numerator. — The numerator of the gross receipts factor shall include, in addition to items otherwise includable in the sales factor under §11-21-37a of this code, the following:

(A) Receipts from the lease or rental of real or tangible personal property whether as the economic equivalent of an extension of credit or otherwise if the property is located in this state;

(B) Interest income and other receipts from assets in the nature of loans which are secured primarily by real estate or tangible personal property if the security property is located in the state. If the security property is also located in one or more other states, receipts are presumed to be from sources within this state, subject to rebuttal based upon factors described in rules to be proposed by the Tax Commissioner, including the factor that the proceeds of any loans were applied and used by the borrower entirely outside of this state;

(C) Interest income and other receipts from consumer loans which are unsecured or are secured by intangible property that are made to residents of this state, whether at a place of business, by traveling loan officer, by mail, by telephone or other electronic means or otherwise;

(D) Interest income and other receipts from commercial loans and installment obligations which are unsecured or are secured by intangible property if and to the extent that the borrower or debtor is a resident of or is domiciled in this state: Provided, That receipts are presumed to be from sources in this state and the presumption may be overcome by reference to factors described in rules to be proposed by the Tax Commissioner, including the factor that the proceeds of any loans were applied and used by the borrower entirely outside of this state;

(E) Interest income and other receipts from a financial organization’s syndication and participation in loans, under the rules set forth in paragraphs (A) through (D), inclusive, of this subdivision;

(F) Interest income and other receipts, including service charges, from financial institution credit card and travel and entertainment credit card receivables and credit card holders’ fees if the borrower or debtor is a resident of this state or if the billings for any receipts are regularly sent to an address in this state;

(G) Merchant discount income derived from financial institution credit card holder transactions with a merchant located in this state. When merchants are located within and without this state, only receipts from merchant discounts attributable to sales made from locations within this state shall be attributed to this state. It shall be presumed, subject to rebuttal, that the location of a merchant is the address shown on the invoice submitted by the merchant to the taxpayer;

(H) Gross receipts from the performance of services are attributed to this state if:

(i) The service receipts are loan-related fees, including loan servicing fees, and the borrower resides in this state, except that, at the taxpayer’s election, receipts from loan-related fees which are either: (I) “Pooled” or aggregated for collective financial accounting treatment; or (II) manually written as nonrecurring extraordinary charges to be processed directly to the general ledger may either be attributed to a state based upon the borrowers’ residences or upon the ratio that total interest sourced to that state bears to total interest from all sources;

(ii) The service receipts are deposit-related fees and the depositor resides in this state, except that, at the taxpayer’s election, receipts from deposit-related fees which are either: (I) “Pooled” or aggregated for collective financial accounting treatment; or (II) manually written as nonrecurring extraordinary charges to be processed directly to the general ledger may either be attributed to a state based upon the depositors’ residences or upon the ratio that total deposits sourced to that state bears to total deposits from all sources;

(iii) The service receipt is a brokerage fee and the account holder is a resident of this state;

(iv) The service receipts are fees related to estate or trust services and the estate’s decedent was a resident of this state immediately before death or the grantor who either funded or established the trust is a resident of this state; or

(v) The service receipt is associated with the performance of any other service not identified above and the service is performed for an individual resident of, or for a corporation or other business domiciled in, this state and the economic benefit of service is received in this state;

(I) Gross receipts from the issuance of travelers’ checks and money orders if the checks and money orders are purchased in this state; and

(J) All other receipts not attributed by this rule to a state in which the taxpayer is taxable shall be attributed pursuant to the laws of the state of the taxpayer’s commercial domicile.

(2) Denominator. — The denominator of the gross receipts factor shall include all of the taxpayer’s gross receipts from transactions of the kind included in the numerator, but without regard to their source or situs.

(h) Effective date. — The provisions of this section enacted in 2019 shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

§11-21-51a. Composite returns.


(a) Nonresident individuals who are required by this article to file a return and who are:

(1) Partners in a partnership deriving income from a West Virginia source or sources; or

(2) Shareholders of a corporation having income from a West Virginia source or sources and which made an election under Section 1362(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (S corporations) for the taxable year; or

(3) Beneficiaries who received a distribution (actual or deemed) from an estate or trust having income from a West Virginia source or sources may, upon payment of a composite return processing fee of $50, file a composite return in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(b) In filing a composite return and determining the tax due thereon, no personal exemptions may be utilized, and the rate of tax shall be six and one-half percent. The entity or entities, to which the composite return relates are responsible for collection and remittance of all income tax due at the time the return is filed.

(c) The composite return shall be filed in a manner and form acceptable to and in accordance with instructions from the commissioner, and need not be signed by all nonresident individuals on whose behalf the return is filed: Provided, That the return is signed by a partner, in the case of a partnership, an equity owner of any other pass-through entity a corporate officer, in the case of a corporation, by a trustee, in the case of a trust or by an executor or administrator in the case of an estate.

(d) For the purposes of this section, a composite return means a return filed on a group basis as though there was one taxpayer, and sets forth the name, address, taxpayer identification number and percent ownership or interest of each nonresident individual who consents to be included in the composite return in addition to return information as that term is defined in §11-10-5d of this code; the term includes block filing: Provided, That nothing in this section may prohibit a nonresident from also filing a separate nonresident personal income tax return for the taxable year and a separate return shall be filed if the nonresident has income from any other West Virginia source. If a separate return is also filed for the taxable year, the nonresident shall be allowed credit for his or her share of the tax remitted with the composite return for that taxable year.

(e) This section, as amended in the year 2019, shall apply to composite returns filed after December 31, 2018.


§11-21-59. Report of change in federal taxable income.


(a) Unless the provision of §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code apply, if the amount of a taxpayer’s federal taxable income reported on his or her federal income tax return for any taxable year is changed or corrected by the United States Internal Revenue Service or other competent authority, or as the result of a renegotiation of a contract or subcontract with the United States, the taxpayer shall report such change or correction in federal taxable income within 90 days after the final determination of such change, correction, or renegotiation, or as otherwise required by the Tax Commissioner, and shall concede the accuracy of the determination or state wherein it is erroneous. Any taxpayer filing an amended federal income tax return shall also file within 90 days thereafter an amended return under this article, and shall give such information as the Tax Commissioner may require. The Tax Commissioner may by rule prescribe such exceptions to the requirements of this section as he or she determines appropriate.

(b) (1) If a change or correction is made or allowed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or other officer of the United States, or other competent authority, a claim for credit or refund resulting from the adjustment may be filed by the taxpayer within two years from the date of the final federal determination, or within the period provided in §11-10-14 of this code, whichever period expires later.

(2) Within two years of the date of the final determination, or within the period provided in §11-10-14 of this code, whichever period expires later, the Tax Commissioner may allow a credit, make a refund, or mail to the taxpayer a notice of proposed overpayment resulting from the final federal determination.

(c) For the purposes of this section, assessments under a partial agreement, closing agreement covering specific matters, jeopardy or advance payment are considered part of the final determination and must be submitted to the Tax Commissioner with the final determination.

(d) If a partial agreement, a closing agreement covering specific matters or any other agreement with the United States Treasury Department would be final except for a federal extension still open for flow-through adjustments from other entities or other jurisdictions, the final determination is the date the taxpayer signs the agreement. Flow-through adjustments include, but are not limited to, items of income gain, loss and deduction that flow through to equity owners, of a partnership, or other pass-through entity. Flow-through adjustments are finally determined based on criteria specified in §11-21-59(g) of this code.

(e) The Tax Commissioner is not required to issue refunds based on any agreement other than a final determination.

(f) If a taxpayer has filed an amended federal return, and no corresponding West Virginia amended return has been filed with the Tax Commissioner, then the period of limitations for issuing a notice of assessment shall be reopened and shall not expire until three years from the date of delivery to the Tax Commissioner by the taxpayer of the amended federal return. However, upon the expiration of the period of limitations as provided in §11-10-15 of this code, then only those specific items of income, deductions, gains, losses, or credits, which were adjusted in the amended federal return shall be subject to adjustment for purposes of recomputing West Virginia income, deductions, gains, losses, credits, and the effect of such adjustments on West Virginia allocations and apportionments.

(g) For the purposes of this section, “final determination” means the appeal rights of both parties have expired or have been exhausted relative to the tax year for federal income tax purposes.

(h) The amendments made to this section in the year 2019 shall apply, without regard to taxable year, to federal determinations that become final on or after the effective date of the amendments to this section in the year 2019.


§11-21-59a. Report of change in taxes paid to other states.

(a) If the amount of any individual taxpayer’s income tax reported on a return filed with any other state for any taxable year is changed or corrected by such state as a result of an examination conducted by a competent authority of the state, and the taxpayer previously claimed a credit for such tax pursuant to §11-21-20 of this code, the taxpayer shall file an amended return, or such other form as the Tax Commissioner may prescribe, reporting the effects of the change or correction on the taxpayer’s West Virginia personal income tax within one year after the final determination of the change or correction, or as otherwise required by the Tax Commissioner, and shall concede the accuracy of such determination, or declare wherein it is erroneous. However, if the Tax Commissioner has sufficient information from which to compute the proper additional tax and the taxpayer has paid the tax, then the taxpayer is not required to file an amended West Virginia personal income tax return. Any taxpayer filing an amended income tax return with any other state that results in a change to the taxpayer’s West Virginia personal income tax shall also file an amended return within one year thereafter under this article and shall provide such information as the Tax Commissioner may require. The Tax Commissioner may by rule prescribe such exceptions to the requirements of this section as the commissioner considers appropriate.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “final determination” means the appeal rights of both parties have expired or have been exhausted relative to the tax year.

(c) This section amended in the year 2019 shall apply, without regard to the taxable year, to federal determinations that become final on or after the effective date of this section enacted in the year 2019.

§11-21-71a. Withholding tax on West Virginia source income of nonresident partners, nonresident S corporation shareholders, and nonresident beneficiaries of estates and trusts.


(a) General rule. — For the privilege of doing business in this state or deriving rents or royalties from real or tangible personal property located in this state, including, but not limited to, natural resources in place and standing timber, a partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, which is treated as a pass-through entity for federal income tax purposes and which has taxable income for the taxable year derived from or connected with West Virginia sources any portion of which is allocable to a nonresident partner, nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary, as the case may be, shall pay a withholding tax under this section, except as provided in subsections (c) and (k) of this section.

(b) Amount of withholding tax. —

(1) In general. — The amount of withholding tax payable by any partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, under subsection (a) of this section, shall be equal to four percent of the effectively connected taxable income of the partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, as the case may be, which may lawfully be taxed by this state and which is allocable to a nonresident partner, nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary of a trust or estate: Provided, That for taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2008, the amount of withholding tax payable by any partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, under subsection (a) of this section, shall be equal to six and one-half percent of the effectively connected taxable income of the partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, as the case may be, which may lawfully be taxed by this state and which is allocable to a nonresident partner, nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary of a trust or estate.

(2) Credits against tax. — When determining the amount of withholding tax due under this section, the pass-through entity may apply any tax credits allowable under this chapter to the pass-through entity which pass through to the nonresident distributees: Provided, That in no event may the application of any credit or credits reduce the tax liability of the distributee under this article to less than zero.

(c) When withholding is not required. — Withholding may not be required:

(1) On distribution to a person, other than a corporation, who is exempt from the tax imposed by this article. For purposes of this subdivision, a person is exempt from the tax imposed by this article only if such person is, by reason of that person’s purpose or activities, exempt from paying federal income taxes on such person’s West Virginia source income. The pass-through entity may rely on the written statement of the person claiming to be exempt from the tax imposed by this article provided the pass-through entity discloses the name and federal taxpayer identification number for all such persons in its return for the taxable year filed under this article or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code; or

(2) On distributions to a corporation which is exempt from the tax imposed by §11-24-1 et seq. of this code. For purposes of this subdivision, a corporation is exempt from the tax imposed by §11-24-1 et seq. of this code only if the corporation, by reason of its purpose or activities is exempt from paying federal income taxes on the corporation’s West Virginia source income. The pass-through entity may rely on the written statement of the person claiming to be exempt from the tax imposed by §11-24-1 et seq. of this code provided the pass-through entity discloses the name and federal taxpayer identification number for all such corporations in its return for the taxable year filed under this article or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code; or

(3) On distributions when compliance will cause undue hardship on the pass-through entity: Provided, That no pass-through entity shall be exempt under this subdivision from complying with the withholding requirements of this section unless the Tax Commissioner, in his or her discretion, approves in writing the pass-through entity’s written petition for exemption from the withholding requirements of this section based on undue hardship. The Tax Commissioner may prescribe the form and contents of such a petition and specify standards for when a pass-through entity will not be required to comply with the withholding requirements of this section due to undue hardship. Such standards shall take into account (among other relevant factors) the ability of a pass-through entity to comply at reasonable cost with the withholding requirements of this section and the cost to this state of collecting the tax directly from a nonresident distributee who does not voluntarily file a return and pay the amount of tax due under this article with respect to such distributions; or

(4) On distributions by nonpartnership ventures. An unincorporated organization that has elected, under Section 761 of the Internal Revenue Code, to not be treated as a partnership for federal income tax is not treated as a partnership under this article and is not required to withhold under this section. However, such unincorporated organizations shall make and file with the Tax Commissioner a true and accurate return of information under §11-21-58(c) of this code, under such rules and in such form and manner as the Tax Commissioner may prescribe, setting forth: (A) The amount of fixed or determinable gains, profits, and income; and (B) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of persons receiving fixed or determinable gains, profits or income from the nonpartnership venture.

(5) Publicly traded partnerships. — A publicly traded partnership, as defined in §11-21A-1 of this code, that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year, is exempt from the withholding requirements of §11-21-71a of this code, if the following information is provided to the Tax Commissioner: The name, address, taxpayer identification number, and West Virginia source income of each partner that had an interest in the publicly traded partnership during the taxable year. This information shall be provided in an electronic format approved by the Tax Commissioner.

(d) Payment of withheld tax. —

(1) General rule. — Each partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, required to withhold tax under this section, shall pay the amount required to be withheld to the Tax Commissioner no later than:

(A) S corporations. — The 15th day of the third month following the close of the taxable year of the S corporation along with the annual information return due under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, unless paragraph (C) of this subdivision applies.

(B) Partnerships, estates, and trusts. — The 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the taxable year of the partnership, estate or trust, with the annual return of the partnership, estate or trust due under this article, unless paragraph (C) of this subdivision applies: Provided, That for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, partnerships shall pay the amount required to be withheld to the Tax Commissioner, along with the annual return of the partnership due under this article, on the 15th day of the third month following the close of the taxable year of the partnership, unless paragraph (C) of this subdivision applies.

(C) Composite returns. — The 15th day of the fourth month of the taxable year with the composite return filed under §11-21-51a of this code: Provided, That for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, partnerships or partners in a partnership filing composite returns under §11-21-51a of this code shall pay the amount required to be withheld to the Tax Commissioner, along with the annual return due under this article, on the 15th day of the third month following the close of the taxable year.

(2) Special rules. —

(A) Where there is extension of time to file return. — An extension of time for filing the returns referenced in subdivision (1) of this subsection does not extend the time for paying the amount of withholding tax due under this section. In this situation, the pass-through entity shall pay, by the date specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, at least 90 percent of the withholding tax due for the taxable year, or 100 percent of the tax paid under this section for the prior taxable year, if such taxable year was a taxable year of 12 months and tax was paid under this section for that taxable year. The remaining portion of the tax due under this section, if any, shall be paid at the time the pass-through entity files the return specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection. If the balance due is paid by the last day of the extension period for filing the return and the amount of tax due with such return is 10 percent or less of the tax due under this section for the taxable year, no additions to tax may be imposed under §11-10-1 et seq. of this code with respect to balance so remitted. If the amount of withholding tax due under this section for the taxable year is less than the estimated withholding taxes paid for the taxable year by the pass-through entity, the excess shall be refunded to the pass-through entity or, at its election, established as a credit against withholding tax due under this section for the then current taxable year.

(B) Deposit in trust for Tax Commissioner. — The Tax Commissioner may, if the commissioner believes such action is necessary for the protection of trust fund moneys due this state, require any pass-through entity to pay over to the Tax Commissioner the tax deducted and withheld under this section, at any earlier time or times.

(e) Effectively connected taxable income. — For purposes of this section, the term “effectively connected taxable income” means the taxable income or portion thereof of a partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, as the case may be, which is derived from or attributable to West Virginia sources as determined under §11-21-32 of this code and such rules as the Tax Commissioner may prescribe, whether the amount is actually distributed or is determined to have been distributed for federal income tax purposes.

(f) Treatment of nonresident partners, S corporation shareholders, or beneficiaries of a trust or estate. —

(1) Allowance of credit. — Each nonresident partner, nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary shall be allowed a credit for such partner’s or shareholder’s or beneficiary’s share of the tax withheld by the partnership, S corporation, estate or trust under this section: Provided, That when the distribution is to a corporation taxable under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, the credit allowed by this section shall be applied against the distributee corporation’s liability for tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code.

(2) Credit treated as distributed to partner, shareholder, or beneficiary. — Except as provided in rules, a nonresident partner’s share, a nonresident shareholder’s share, or a nonresident beneficiary’s share of any withholding tax paid by the partnership, S corporation, estate or trust under this section shall be treated as distributed to the partner by the partnership, or to the shareholder by the S corporation, or to the beneficiary by the estate or trust on the earlier of:

(A) The day on which the tax was paid to the Tax Commissioner by the partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust; or

(B) The last day of the taxable year for which the tax was paid by the partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust.

(g) Regulations. — The Tax Commissioner shall prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(h) Information statement. —

(1) Every person required to deduct and withhold tax under this section shall furnish to each nonresident partner, or nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary, as the case may be, a written statement, as prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, showing the amount of West Virginia effectively connected taxable income, whether distributed or not distributed for federal income tax purposes by such partnership, S corporation, estate or trust, to the nonresident partner, or nonresident shareholder, or nonresident beneficiary, the amount deducted and withheld as tax under this section; and such other information as the Tax Commissioner may require.

(2) A copy of the information statements required by this subsection shall be filed with the West Virginia return filed under this article (or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code for S corporations) by the pass-through entity for its taxable year to which the distribution relates. This information statement shall be furnished to each nonresident distributee on or before the due date of the pass-through entity’s return under this article or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code for the taxable year, including extensions of time for filing such return, or such later date as may be allowed by the Tax Commissioner.

(i) Liability for withheld tax. — Every person required to deduct and withhold tax under this section is hereby made liable for the payment of the tax due under this section for taxable years (of such persons) beginning after December 31, 1991, except as otherwise provided in this section. The amount of tax required to be withheld and paid over to the Tax Commissioner shall be considered the tax of the partnership, estate, or trust, as the case may be, for purposes of §11-9-1 et seq. and §11-10-1 et seq. of this code. Any amount of tax withheld under this section shall be held in trust for the Tax Commissioner. No partner, S corporation shareholder, or beneficiary of a trust or estate, may have a right of action against the partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, in respect to any moneys withheld from the person’s distributive share and paid over to the Tax Commissioner in compliance with or in intended compliance with this section.

(j) Failure to withhold. — If any partnership, S corporation, estate or trust fails to deduct and withhold tax as required by this section and thereafter the tax against which the tax may be credited is paid, the tax so required to be deducted and withheld under this section may not be collected from the partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, as the case may be, but the partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust may not be relieved from liability for any penalties or interest on additions to tax otherwise applicable in respect of the failure to withhold.

(k) Distributee agreements. —

(1) The Tax Commissioner shall permit a nonresident distributee to file with a pass-through entity, on a form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, the agreement of the nonresident distributee: (A) To timely file returns and make timely payment of all taxes imposed by this article or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code in the case of a C corporation, on the distributee with respect to the effectively connected taxable income of the pass-through entity; and (B) to be subject to personal jurisdiction in this state for purposes of the collection of any unpaid income tax under this article (or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code in the case of a C corporation), together with related interest, penalties, additional amounts and additions to tax, owed by the nonresident distributee.

(2) A nonresident distributee electing to execute an agreement under this subsection shall file a complete and properly executed agreement with each pass-through entity for which this election is made, on or before the last day of the first taxable year of the pass-through entity in respect of which the agreement applies. The pass-through entity shall file a copy of that agreement with the Tax Commissioner as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection.

(3) After an agreement is filed with the pass-through entity, that agreement may be revoked by a distributee only in accordance with rules promulgated by the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Upon receipt of such an agreement properly executed by the nonresident distributee, the pass-through entity may not withhold tax under this section for the taxable year of the pass-through entity in which the agreement is received by the pass-through entity and for any taxable year subsequent thereto until either the nonresident distributee notifies the pass-through entity, in writing, to begin withholding tax under this section or the Tax Commissioner directs the pass-through entity, in writing, to begin withholding tax under this section because of the distributee’ s continuing failure to comply with the terms of the agreement.

(5) The pass-through entity shall file with the Tax Commissioner a copy of all distributee agreements received by the pass-through entity during any taxable year with this annual information return filed under this article, or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code if S corporations. If the pass-through entity fails to timely file with the Tax Commissioner a copy of an agreement executed by a distributee and furnished to the pass-through entity in accordance with this section, then the pass-through entity shall remit to the Tax Commissioner an amount equal to the amount that should have been withheld under this section from the nonresident distributee. The pass-through entity may recover payment made pursuant to the preceding sentence from the distributee on whose behalf the payment was made.

(l) Definitions. — For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

(1) Corporation. — The term “corporation” includes associations, joint stock companies, and other entities which are taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes.

(A) C corporation. — The term “C corporation” means a corporation which is not an S corporation for federal income tax purposes.

(B) S corporation. — The term “S corporation” means a corporation for which a valid election under Section 1362(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is in effect for the taxable period. All other corporations are C corporations.

(2) Distributee. — The term “distributee” includes any partner of a partnership, any shareholder of an S corporation and any beneficiary of an estate or trust that is treated as a pass-through entity for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year of the entity, with respect to all or a portion of its income.

(3) Internal Revenue Code. — The term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, through the date specified in §11-21-9 of this code.

(4) Nonresident distributee. — The term “nonresident distributee” includes any individual who is treated as a nonresident of this state under this article; and any partnership, estate, trust, or corporation whose commercial domicile is located outside this state.

(5) Partner. — The term “partner” includes a member of a partnership as that term is defined in this section, and an equity owner of any other pass-through entity.

(6) Partnership. — The term “partnership” includes a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture, or other unincorporated organization through or by means of which any business, financial operation, or venture is carried on and which is not a trust or estate, a corporation or a sole proprietorship. “Partnership” does not include an unincorporated organization which, under Section 761 of the Internal Revenue Code, is not treated as a partnership for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes.

(7) “Pass-through entity” means any partnership or other business entity, that is not subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, imposing tax on C corporations or other entities taxable as a C corporation for federal income tax purposes.

(8) Taxable period. — The term “taxable period” means, if an S corporation, any taxable year or portion of a taxable year during which a corporation is an S corporation.

(9) Taxable year of the pass-through entity. — The term “taxable year of the pass-through entity” means the taxable year of the pass-through entity for federal income tax purposes. If a pass-through entity does not have a taxable year for federal tax purposes, its tax year for purposes of this article shall be the calendar year.

(m) Effective date. — The provisions of this section shall first apply to taxable years of pass-through entities beginning after December 31, 1991.

(n) This section as amended in the year 2019 shall apply, without regard to the taxable year, to taxes owed attributable to federal determinations that become final on or after the effective date of this section enacted in the year 2019.

ARTICLE 21A. ADDITIONAL INCOME TAXES DUE TO FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP ADJUSTMENTS.

§11-21A-1. Definitions.


The following definitions apply for the purposes of this article:

(1) “Administrative adjustment request” means an administrative adjustment request filed by a partnership under I.R.C. § 6227.

(2) “Audited partnership” means a partnership subject to a federal adjustment resulting from a partnership level audit resulting in a federal adjustment.

(3) “C corporation” means any corporation that is taxed separately from its owners for federal income tax purposes and included a pass-through entity that elects to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

(4) “Composite return partner” means a partner in a partnership that was required to be included in a West Virginia composite income tax return filed pursuant to §11-21-51a of this code in the reviewed year.

(5) “Corporate partner” means a partner that is subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code.

(6) “Date of each final federal determination” means the date on which each adjustment or resolution resulting from an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examination is assessed pursuant to I.R.C. § 6203.

(7) “Direct partner” means a partner that holds an interest directly in a partnership or pass-through entity.

(8) “Entity” means any person that is not an individual.

(9) “Exempt partner” means a partner that is exempt from taxation under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code except on unrelated business taxable income.

(10) “Federal adjustment” means a change to an item or amount determined under the Internal Revenue Code that is used by a taxpayer to compute West Virginia tax owed whether that change results from action by the IRS, including a partnership level audit, or the filing of an amended federal return, federal refund claim, or an administrative adjustment request by the taxpayer. A federal adjustment is positive to the extent that it increases state taxable income as determined under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, and is negative to the extent that it decreases state taxable income as determined under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable.

(11) “Federal adjustments report” includes methods or forms required by the Tax Commissioner for use by a taxpayer to report federal adjustments, including an amended West Virginia tax return, information return, or a uniform multistate report.

(12) “Federal election for alternative payment” refers to the election described in I.R.C. § 6226, relating to the alternative to payment of the imputed underpayment by partnership.

(13) “Federal partnership representative” means the person the partnership designates, for the taxable year, as the partnership’s representative, or the person the IRS has appointed to act as the federal partnership representative pursuant to I.R.C. § 6223(a).

(14) “Final determination date” means the following:

(A) Except as provided in §11-21A-1(14)(B) and (C) of this code, if the  federal adjustment arises from an IRS audit, or other action by the IRS, the final determination date is the first day on which no federal adjustments arising from that audit, or other action remain to be finally determined, whether by IRS decision with respect to which all rights of appeal have been waived or exhausted, by agreement, or, if appealed or contested, by a final decision with respect to which all rights of appeal have been waived or exhausted. For agreements required to be signed by the IRS and the taxpayer, the final determination date is the date on which the last party signed the agreement.

(B) For federal adjustments arising from an IRS audit or by other action of the IRS, if the taxpayer was included in a combined report filed under §11-24-13a of this code, the final determination date means the first day on which no related federal adjustments arising from that audit remain to be finally determined, as described in §11-21A-1(14)(A) of this code for the entire group.

(C) If the federal adjustment results from filing an amended federal return, a federal refund claim, or an administrative adjustment request, or if a federal adjustment reported is on an amended federal return or other similar report filed pursuant to I.R.C. § 6225(c), the final determination date is the day on which the amended return, refund claim, or administrative adjustment request or other similar report was filed.

(15) “Final federal adjustment” means a federal adjustment after the final determination date for that federal adjustment has passed.

(16) “Indirect partner” means a partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity that itself holds an indirect interest directly, or through another indirect partner, in a partnership or other pass-through entity.

(17) “Interest” in an entity means an ownership or beneficial interest in an entity.

(18) “Internal Revenue Code” or “I.R.C.” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as codified at 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1, et seq., as defined in §11-21-9 or §11-24-3 of this code, as applicable, for the taxable year, and any applicable regulations as promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury.

(19) “Internal Revenue Service” or “IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury.

(20) “Nonresident partner” means an individual, trust or estate partner that is not a resident as defined in §11-21-7 of this code.

(21) “Partner” means a person that holds an interest directly or indirectly in a partnership or other pass-through entity.

(22) “Partnership” means an entity subject to taxation under Subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code.

(23) “Partnership adjustment” means any adjustment to a partnership-related item.

(24) “Partnership level audit” means an examination by the IRS at the partnership level pursuant to Subchapter C of Title 26, Subtitle F, Chapter 63 of the I.R.C., as enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74, which results in federal adjustments.

(25) “Partnership-related item” means:

(A) Any item or amount with respect to the partnership (without regard to whether or not the item or amount appears on the partnership’s return and including an imputed underpayment and any item or amount relating to any transaction with, basis in, or liability of, the partnership) which is relevant (determined without regard to this article) in determining the tax liability of any person under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code; and

(B) Any partner’s distributive share of any item of amount described in paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(26) “Pass-through entity” means any partnership or other business entity that is not subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq., imposing tax on C corporations or other entities taxable as a corporation.

(27) “Person” means and includes, but is not limited to, any individual, firm, partnership, limited partnership, copartnership, limited liability company, other pass-through entity, joint venture, association, corporation, municipal corporation, organization, receiver, estate, trust, guardian, executor, administrator, any other group or combination acting as a unit, and also any officer, employee or member of any of the foregoing who, as an officer, employee or member, is under a duty to perform or is responsible for the performance of an act prescribed by the provisions of §11-21-1 et seq., §11-21A-1 et seq., or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code.

(28) “Publicly traded partnership” means either of the following:

(A) A publicly traded partnership within the meaning of I.R.C. § 7704; or

(B) Any other partnership where more than 10 percent of the profits or capital interest is owned directly or indirectly by a partnership described in §11-21A-1(28)(A) of this code.

(29) “Reallocation adjustment” means a federal adjustment resulting from a partnership level audit, or an administrative adjustment request, that changes the shares of one or more items of partnership income, gain, loss, expense or credit allocated to direct partners. A positive reallocation adjustment means the portion of a reallocation adjustment that would increase federal taxable income for one or more direct partners, and a negative reallocation adjustment means the portion of a reallocation adjustment that would decrease federal income for one or more direct partners pursuant to regulations under I.R.C. § 6225.

(30) “Resident partner” means an individual, trust, or estate partner that has his or her domicile in this state or is a resident of this state for tax purposes, as defined in §11-21-7 of this code, for the relevant period.

(31) “Reviewed year” means the taxable year of a partnership that is subject to a partnership level audit from which federal adjustments arise.

(32) “S corporation” means a corporation or pass-through entity that makes a valid election to be taxed under Subchapter S of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(33) “State imputed underpayment” means the netting of all final adjustments to partnership-related items at the entity level for the reviewed year (excluding any reallocations of income, expenses, gains, and losses among partners), apportioned and allocated to West Virginia at the entity level, and multiplied by the applicable West Virginia income tax rate(s) set forth in §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, for the taxable year.

(34) “State partnership adjustment report” means a form prescribed by Tax Commissioner that identifies the partnership’s direct partners, each partner’s share of adjustments to partnership-related items, and any reallocations of income, expenses, gains, and losses among such partners, that arise directly or indirectly from a partnership level audit.

(35) “State partnership audit” means an examination by the Tax Commissioner at the partnership or pass-through entity level which results in adjustments to partnership or pass-through entity related items or reallocations of income, expenses, gains, losses, credits, and other attributes among the partners for the reviewed year.

(36) “State partnership representative” means the person the partnership designates to be the partnership’s representative for West Virginia tax purposes for the reviewed year pursuant to §11-21A-3 of this code and shall be the federal partnership representative in absence of the partnership designating a West Virginia partnership representative.

(37) “Subsequent affected year” means a tax year subsequent to the reviewed year in which a federal adjustment arising from an audit of that reviewed year affects the West Virginia income tax owed by a taxpayer.

(38) “Tax Commissioner” means the Tax Commissioner of the State of West Virginia or his or her delegate, as provided in §11-1-1 of this code.

(39) “Taxpayer” means any person subject to the tax imposed by §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, including a partnership subject to a partnership level audit or a partnership that has made an administrative adjustment request, as well as a tiered partner of that partnership.

(40) “This state” or “state” means the State of West Virginia.

(41) “Tiered partner” means any partner that is a partnership or other pass-through entity.

(42) “Tiered partnership” means any partnership or other pass-through entity that has one or more tiered partners.

(43) “Unrelated business taxable income” has the same meaning as defined in I.R.C. § 512.

(44) “West Virginia tax” means the tax imposed by §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, plus interest and additions to tax imposed pursuant to §11-10-1 et seq. of this code.

(45) “Withholding partner” means a partner in a partnership for whom the partnership was required to withhold West Virginia tax pursuant to §11-21-71a of this code or administrative authority for the reviewed year.



(a) Except in the case of final federal adjustments which are required to be reported by a partnership and its partners using the procedures in §11-21A-3 of this code, and final federal adjustments required to be reported for federal purposes under I.R.C. § 6225(a)(2), a taxpayer shall report and pay any West Virginia income tax due with respect to final federal adjustments arising from an audit or other action by the IRS or reported by the taxpayer on a timely filed amended federal income tax return including a return or similar document filed pursuant to I.R.C. §6225(c), or federal claim for refund by filing a federal adjustments report with the Tax Commissioner for the reviewed year and, if applicable, pay the additional West Virginia tax owed by the taxpayer not later than 180 days after the final determination date.

(b) Notwithstanding §11-21-59 and §11-24-20 of this code, if any item required to be shown on a federal partnership return, including any gross income, deduction, penalty, credit, or tax for any year of any partnership, including any amount of any partner’s distributive share, is changed or corrected by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or other officer of the United States or other competent authority, and the partnership is issued an adjustment under I.R.C. § 6225, or makes a federal election for alternative payment, by the Internal Revenue Service as part of a partnership level audit, the partnership shall report each change or correction with the Tax Commissioner for the reviewed year within six months after the date of each final federal determination. The report of adjustments or return reporting the adjustments shall be sufficiently detailed to allow computation of the West Virginia tax change under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, resulting from the federal adjustment and shall be reported in the form and manner as prescribed by the Tax Commissioner.



(a) General. — Except for adjustments required to be reported for federal purposes pursuant to I.R.C. § 6225(a)(2), and the distributive share of adjustments that have been reported as required by §11-21A-2 of this code, partnerships and partners shall report final federal adjustments arising from a partnership level adjustment, or an administrative adjustment request, and make payments as required by this section of the code.

(b) State partnership representative. —

(1) With respect to an action required or permitted to be taken by a partnership under this section of the code and a proceeding under §11-10A-1 et seq. of this code with respect that action, the state partnership representative for the reviewed year has the sole authority to act on behalf of the partnership, and its direct partners and indirect partners shall be bound by those actions.

(2) The state partnership representative for the reviewed year is the partnership’s federal partnership representative unless the partnership designates in writing another person as its state partnership representative.

(3) The Tax Commissioner may establish reasonable qualifications for and procedures for designating a person, other than the federal partnership representative, to be the state partnership representative.

(c) Reporting and payment requirements for partnerships subject to a final federal adjustment and direct partners. —  Final federal adjustments subject to the requirements of §11-21A-3 of this code, except for those subject to a properly made election under §11-21A-3(d) of this code, shall be reported as follows:

(1) No later than 90 days after the final determination date, the partnership shall:

(A) File a completed federal adjustment report with the Tax Commissioner, including information as required by the Tax Commissioner; and

(B) Notify each of its direct partners of their distributive share of the final federal adjustments including information as required by the Tax Commissioner; and

(C) File an amended composite return for direct partners as permitted under §11-21-51a of this code and/or an amended withholding return for direct partners under §11-21-71a of this code and pay the additional amount due under §11-21-1 et seq. and §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, that would have been due had the final federal adjustments been reported properly as required.

(2) Except as provided in §11-21A-4 of this code for minimal tax liabilities, no later than 180 days after the final determination date, each direct partner that is taxed under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as applicable, shall:

(A) File a federal adjustment report reporting their distributive share of the adjustments reported to them under §11-21A-3(c)(1)(B) of this code as required by West Virginia law; and

(B) Pay any additional amount of tax due as if final federal adjustments had been properly reported, plus any additions to tax and interest due under §11-10-1 et seq. of this code and less any credit for related amounts paid or withheld and remitted on behalf of the direct partner under §11-21A-3(c)(1)(C) of this code.

(d) Election — partnership pays. — Subject to the limitations in this subsection, an audited partnership making an election under §11-21A-3(d) of this code shall:

(1) No later than 90 days after the final determination date, file a completed federal adjustment report, including information as required by rule or instruction of the Tax Commissioner, and notify the Tax Commissioner that it is making the election under §11-21A-3(d) of this code;

(2) No later than 180 days after the final determination date, pay an amount, determined as follows, in lieu of taxes owed by its direct partners and indirect partners:

(A) Exclude from final federal adjustments the distributive share of these adjustments reported to a direct exempt partner not subject to tax under § 11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code;

(B) For the total distributive shares of the remaining final federal adjustments reported to direct corporate partners subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, and to direct exempt partners subject to tax under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, apportion and allocate the adjustments as provided in §11-24-7 of this code, as applicable, and multiply the resulting amount by the highest tax rate under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code;

(C) For the total distributive shares of the remaining final federal adjustments reported to nonresident direct partners subject to tax under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code, determine the amount of the adjustments which is West Virginia source income under §11-21-30 of this code, and multiply the resulting amount by the highest tax rate under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code;

(D) For the total distributive shares of the remaining final federal adjustments reported to tiered partners:

(i) Determine the amount of the adjustments which is of a type that it would not be subject to sourcing to West Virginia under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code; allocate and apportion the income as provided in §11-21-1 et seq. of this code; and then determine the portion of this amount that would be sourced to this state applying these rules.

(ii) Determine the amount of such adjustments which is of a type that it would not be subject to sourcing to West Virginia by a nonresident under §11-21-30 of this code.

(iii) Determine the portion of the amount determined in §11-21A-3(c)(2)(D)(ii) of this code that can be established under rule issued by the Tax Commissioner, to be properly allocable to nonresident indirect partners or other partners not subject tax on the adjustments; or that can be excluded under procedures for modified reporting and payment method allowed under §11-21A-3(f) of this code.

(E) Multiply the total of the amounts determined in §11-21A-3(d)(2)(D)(i) and (ii) of this code reduced by the amount determined in §11-21A-3(d)(2)(D)(iii) of this code by the highest tax rate under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code that applies to individuals and/or estates and trusts;

(F) For the total distributive shares of the remaining final federal adjustments reported to resident direct partners subject to tax under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code, multiply that amount by the highest tax rate under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code that applies to individuals and/or estates and trusts;

(G) Add the amounts determined in §11-21A-3(d)(2)(B), (D), (E), and (F) of this code;

(3) Final federal adjustments subject to this election exclude:

(A) The distributive share of final audit adjustments that under §11-24-1 et seq. of this code must be included in the unitary business income of any direct or indirect corporate partner, provided that the audited partnership can reasonably determine this amount; and

(B) Any final federal adjustments resulting from an administrative adjustment request.

(4) An audited partnership not otherwise subject to any reporting or payment obligation to this state that makes an election under §11-21A-3(d) of this code consents to be subject to this state’s laws related to reporting, assessment, payment, and collection of West Virginia income tax calculated under the election.

(e) Tiered partners. — The direct and indirect partners of an audited partnership that are tiered partners, and all of the partners of those tiered partners that are subject to tax under §11-21-1 et seq. or §11-24-1 et seq. of this code, as appropriate, are subject to the reporting and payment requirements of §11-21A-3(b) of this code and the tiered partners are entitled to make the elections provided in §11-21A-3(c) and (e) of this code. The tiered partners or their partners shall make required reports and payments no later than 90 days after the time for filing and furnishing statements to tiered partners and their partners as established under I.R.C. Section 6226 and the regulations thereunder. The Tax Commissioner may promulgate rules under §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to establish procedures and interim time periods for the reports and payments required by tiered partners and their partners and for making the elections under §11-21A-3 of this code.

(f) Modified reporting and payment method. Under procedures adopted by and subject to the approval of the Tax Commissioner in his or her sole discretion, an audited partnership or tiered partner may enter into an agreement with the Tax Commissioner to utilize an alternative reporting and payment method, including applicable time requirements or any other provision of §11-21A-3 of this code, if the audited partnership or tiered partner demonstrates that the requested method will reasonably provide for the reporting and payment of taxes, additions to tax, and interest due under the provisions of §11-21A-3 of this code. Application for approval of an alternative reporting and payment method shall be made by the audited partnership or tiered partner within the time for election as provided in §11-21A-3(d) or §11-21A-3(e) of this code as appropriate.

(g) Effect of election by audited partnership or tiered partner and payment of amount due. — (1) The election made pursuant to §11-21A-3(d) or §11-21A-3(f) of this code is irrevocable, unless the Tax Commissioner, in his or her sole discretion, determines otherwise.

(2) If properly reported and paid by the audited partnership or tiered partner, the amount determined in §11-21A-3(c) of this code, or similarly under an optional election under §11-21A-3(f) of this code, will be treated as paid in lieu of taxes owed by its direct and indirect partners, to the extent applicable, on the same final federal adjustments. The direct partners or indirect partners may not take any deduction or credit for this amount or claim a refund of this amount in this state. Nothing in §11-21A-3(f) of this code may preclude a direct resident partner from claiming a credit against taxes paid to this state pursuant to §11-21-1 et seq. of this code, any amounts paid by the audited partnership or tiered partner on the resident partner’s behalf to another state in accordance with the provisions of §11-21-1 et seq. of this code allowing credit for taxes paid to another state.

(h) Failure of audited partnership or tiered partner to report or pay. — Nothing in §11-21A-3 of this code prevents the Tax Commissioner from assessing direct partners, or indirect partners, for taxes they owe, using the best information available to the commissioner, if a partnership or tiered partner fails to timely make any report or payment required by §11-21A-3 of this code for any reason.



The Tax Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may promulgate rules, as provided in §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, to establish a de minimis amount upon which a taxpayer shall not be required to comply with §11-21A-2 and §11-21A-3 of this code.



The Tax Commissioner will assess additional West Virginia tax, interest, and additions to tax arising from federal adjustments arising from an audit by the Internal Revenue Service, including a partnership level audit, or reported by the taxpayer on an amended federal income tax return or as part of an administrative adjustment request by the following dates:

(1) Timely reported federal adjustments. — If a taxpayer files with the Tax Commissioner a federal adjustments report or an amended West Virginia tax return as required within the period specified in §11-21A-2 or §11-21A-3 of this code, the Tax Commissioner may assess any West Virginia amounts, including in-lieu-of amounts, of taxes, interest, and additions to tax arising from those federal adjustments if the Tax Commissioner issues a notice of the assessment to the taxpayer by a date which is the latest of the following:

(A) The expiration of the limitations period specified in §11-10-15 of this code setting forth normal limitations period; or

(B) The expiration of the one-year period following the date of filing with the Tax Commissioner of the federal adjustments report under §11-21A-3 of this code.

(2) Untimely reported federal adjustments. — If the taxpayer fails to file the federal adjustments report within the period specified in §11-21A-2 or §11-21A-3 of this code, as appropriate, or the federal adjustments report filed by the taxpayer omits federal adjustments or understates the correct amount of West Virginia tax owed, the Tax Commissioner may assess amounts or additional amounts including in-lieu-of amounts, taxes, interest, and additions to tax arising from the final federal adjustments, if the Tax Commissioner mails a notice of the assessment to the taxpayer by a date which is the latest of the following:

(A) The expiration of the limitations period specified in §11-10-15 of this code setting forth limitations periods; or

(B) The expiration of the one-year period following the date the federal adjustments report was filed with the Tax Commissioner; or

(C) Absent fraud, the expiration of the six-year period following the final determination date.



A taxpayer may make estimated payments to the Tax Commissioner, following the process prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, of the tax expected to result from a pending Internal Revenue Service audit, prior to the due date of the federal adjustments report, without having to file the report with the Tax Commissioner. The estimated tax payments shall be credited against any tax liability ultimately found to be due to West Virginia (final West Virginia tax liability) and shall limit the accrual of further statutory interest on that amount. If the estimated tax payments exceed the final tax liability and statutory interest ultimately determined to be due, the taxpayer is entitled to a refund or credit for the excess, provided the taxpayer files a federal adjustments report or claim for refund or credit of tax pursuant to §11-10-14 or §11-21A-7 of this code, no later than one year following the final determination date.



(a) Notwithstanding the reporting requirement contained in §11-21A-2 or §11-21A-3 of this code, except for final federal adjustments required to be reported for federal income tax purposes under I.R.C. § 6225(a)(2), a taxpayer may file a claim for refund or credit of West Virginia tax arising from federal adjustments made by the Internal Revenue Service on or before the later of:

(1) The expiration of the last day for filing a claim for refund or credit of West Virginia tax pursuant to §11-10-14 of this code, including any extensions; or

(2) One year from the date a federal adjustments report prescribed in §11-21A-2 or §11-21A-3 of this code, as applicable, was due to the Tax Commissioner, including any extensions pursuant to §11-21A-8 of this code.

(b) The federal adjustments report shall serve as the means for the taxpayer to report additional West Virginia tax due, report a claim for refund or credit of tax, and make other adjustments (including, but not limited to, its net operating losses) resulting from adjustments to the taxpayer’s federal taxable income.



(a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the taxpayer and the Tax Commissioner, any adjustments by the Tax Commissioner or by the taxpayer made after the expiration of the statute of limitations for refund and assessment set forth in §11-10-14 and §11-10-15 of this code, respectively, are limited to changes to the taxpayer’s tax liability arising from federal adjustments.

(b) The time periods provided for in this section may be extended:

(1) Automatically, upon written notice to the Tax Commissioner, by 60 days for an audited partnership, or tiered partner, which has 10,000 or more direct partners; or

(2) By written agreement between the taxpayer and the Tax Commissioner pursuant to any rule issued under this section.

(c) An extension granted under §11-21A-8 of this code for filing the federal adjustment report extends the last day prescribed by law for assessing any additional tax arising from the adjustments to federal taxable income, as provided in §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code, and the period for filing a claim for refund of credit of taxes pursuant to §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code.





The Tax Commissioner may propose for promulgation pursuant to the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code such legislative, interpretive, and procedural rules as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article including, but not limited to, rules to determine the West Virginia share of federal audit adjustments.



Every provision of the West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act set forth in §11-10-1 et seq. of this code applies to the taxes imposed by this article, except as otherwise expressly provided in this article, with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the taxes imposed by this article and were set forth in extenso in this article.


§11-21A-12. Crimes and penalties.

Every provision of the West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act set forth in §11-9-1 et seq. of this code applies to the taxes imposed by this article with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the taxes imposed by this article and were set forth in extenso in this article.

ARTICLE 24. CORPORATION NET INCOME TAX.


§11-24-20. Report of change in federal taxable income.

(a) Unless the provision of §11-21A-1 et seq. of this code apply, if the amount of a taxpayer’s federal taxable income reported on its federal income tax return for any taxable year is changed or corrected by the United States internal revenue service or other competent authority, or as the result of a renegotiation of a contract or subcontract with the United States, the taxpayer shall report the change or correction in federal taxable income within 90 days after the final determination of the change, correction or renegotiation, or as otherwise required by the Tax Commissioner, and shall concede the accuracy of the determination or state wherein it is erroneous. Any taxpayer filing an amended federal income tax return shall also file within 90 days thereafter an amended return under this article, and shall give such information as the Tax Commissioner may require. The Tax Commissioner may by rule prescribe such exceptions to the requirements of this section as he or she deems appropriate.

(b) (1) If a change or correction is made or allowed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue or other officer of the United States, or other competent authority, a claim for credit or refund resulting from the adjustment may be filed by the taxpayer within two years from the date of the final federal determination (as defined in §11-21A-2 of this code), or within the period provided in §11-10-14 of this code, whichever period expires later.

(2) Within two years of the date of the final determination (as defined in §11-21A-2 of this code) or within the period provided in §11-10-14 of this code, whichever period expires later, the Tax Commissioner may allow a credit, make a refund, or mail to the taxpayer a notice of proposed overpayment resulting from the final federal determination.

(c) For the purposes of this section, assessments under a partial agreement, closing agreement covering specific matters, jeopardy or advance payment are considered part of the final determination and must be submitted to the Tax Commissioner with the final determination.

(d) If a partial agreement, a closing agreement covering specific matters, or any other agreement with the United States Treasury Department would be final except for a federal extension still open for flow-through adjustments from other entities or other jurisdictions, the final determination is the date the taxpayer signs the agreement. Flow-through adjustments include, but are not limited to, items of income gain, loss, and deduction that flow through to equity owners of a partnership, or other pass-through entity. Flow-through adjustments are finally determined based on criteria specified in §11-24-20(g) of this code.

(e) The Tax Commissioner is not required to issue refunds based on any agreement other than a final determination.

(f) If a taxpayer has filed an amended federal return, and no corresponding West Virginia amended return has been filed with the Tax Commissioner, then the period of limitations for issuing a notice of assessment shall be reopened and shall not expire until three years from the date of delivery to the Tax Commissioner by the taxpayer of the amended federal return. However, upon the expiration of the period of limitations as provided in §11-10-15 of this code, then only those specific items of income, deductions, gains, losses, or credits which were adjusted in the amended federal return shall be subject to adjustment for purposes of recomputing West Virginia income, deductions, gains, losses, credits, and the effect of such adjustments on West Virginia allocations and apportionments.

(g) For the purposes of this section, “final determination” means the appeal rights of both parties have expired or have been exhausted relative to the tax year for federal income tax purposes.

(h) The amendments made to this section in the year 2019 shall apply, without regard to taxable year, to federal determinations that become final on or after the effective date of the amendments to this section in the year 2019.

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